The Galibier-Thabor ski region in France

There are several dozen ski resorts in France, among which Galibier-Thabor shines like a pearl, a station located on the border of the Southern and Northern Alps. It owes its name to two three-thousanders towering over picturesque towns - Valloire and Valmeinier. Together they form a large ski area loved by families with children, but not only. Magnificent landscapes and excellent skiing conditions (the routes extend at an altitude of 1430-2600 m above sea level) attract thousands of people from different countries each year.

The ski areas of Valmeinier and Valloire lie in the particularly sunny Maurienne-Tal valley. Valloire offers winter sports enthusiasts the remarkably atmospheric atmosphere of a small French town. There is a historic baroque church from the 17th century, around which the surrounding houses are concentrated. Tourists can take advantage of a very rich accommodation base, which consists of family rooms, guesthouses and hotels, as well as apartments in residences. Every year, a snow and ice carving competition is held here. It lasts three days, and sculptors from all over the world compete.

Valmeinier , on the other hand, attracts visitors with its location in the vicinity of the National Park Les Ecrins and Vanoise. The biggest attraction, for which the town is famous, is the narrowest pass in the Alps, which is located here.

The beauty of the slopes of Savoy

The Valloire-Valmeinier area lies between the Télégraphe Pass and the Galibier Pass. It is considered by many to be one of the most famous and attractive ski regions in the French Savoy. It is popular not only because of winter conditions, but also because of the beauty of the landscapes and the mild climate in the Maurienne Valley. It's sunny here, and you can count on snow until the end of April. In the event of the whims of the weather, the area for skiers will be prepared by 140 snow cannons.

There are about 150 km of ski runs in the region, including 46 easy, 30 medium and 9 routes for advanced skiers. They are served by 33 lifts, including 14 ski lifts, 17 chairlifts and 2 cabin lifts. From December to the end of April, you can enjoy the fresh snow and the atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else. Cross-country skiers have 10 km of beautiful slopes at their disposal, and snowboarders will test their skills and condition in the snow park, on the half pipe, and on one of the cross-skiing trails (there are 25 km here). You can also admire the surroundings during snowshoe walks.

Prices of passes for the Galibier-Thabor slopes in the season 2013/2014

The variety of ski runs guarantees that everyone will feel good in Galibier-Thabor, but families with children especially like the region. They come here willingly every year, skiing with their offspring in the snow. As much as 25% of all routes are green, and the 12-kilometer-long Selles stands out with the beauty of its landscapes. Not only beginners can check skis on another equally scenic green route, Lutins. It runs in Valloire, stretching for 3,200 meters. However, only experienced skiers can ski on the slopes of La Setaz des Pres and the most difficult black runs: Cascade, Dahu and Olympique.

Proper selection of the pass will allow us to ride freely on most routes, without having to be limited to specific slopes. In the upcoming season, the price of a 1-day pass for an adult Galibier-Thabor ski area will cost 36 euros. The cost of the pass for children from 5 to 9 years old is 29 euros, while seniors and young people will pay 32.5 euros per day. The cost of the 7-day pass is, respectively, EUR 198 (adults), EUR 159.5 (children) and EUR 178.5 (seniors and youth).

A ski camper van

Nobody who decides to come to this resort should have any problems with finding the perfect accommodation for themselves. This also applies to tourists who come with their own motorhome. They will find, among others, Le Marintan , a campsite located in St Michel de Maurienne, approximately 12 km from Valmeinier. For a motorhome pitch, accommodation for 2 people and access to electricity, it costs 15.7 euros per day. We can come here with our pet - the cost of the dog's stay is EUR 1 per day.

You can find many more similar campsites. The area is exceptionally rich in tourist attractions, and during your stay in one of the main resorts you can enjoy local specialties such as pierrade, fondue and raclette. The Après Ski offer tempts both enthusiasts of loud events with fashionable music, as well as amateurs of romantic evenings with a glass of regional wine. Galibier-Thabor is the perfect idea for a weekend or a two-week vacation. Not only in winter.